NPL Stag stake their claim for Newport Pool League success on opening night

2013/2014 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE

For immediate release
Thursday, October 31st, 2013

STAG STAKE THEIR POOL CLAIM AS NRBL AND LSC STROLL ON

NEWPORT (Shropshire): Market Drayton’s Stag are clear favourites to retain a Newport & District Pool League title they clinched under the name of Horns B last season.

They began this year’s campaign well on Wednesday night with a 1-5 victory over Junction A, but LSC at the Tav and Newport Legion are the early season leaders through very different circumstances.
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Newport Legion were handed a walk over 6-0 win over Junction B, when the Norbury side failed to field a full side, but the home team suffered the ignominy of watching new signing Andy Lewis walk out after the pre-season warm-up to join LSC at the Tav minutes before the transfer window closed.

LSC duly prevailed against Knighton's Haberdashers without dropping a single frame. Greg Heathcote, Paul Trevor and Ant Heathcote joined Lewis in the action to seal a convincing win.

King’s Head A cruised passed their B team at Chetwynd End with the loss of just one frame. Mick Collins, Graham Tigwell and Ross Goodchild were on the winning end of three frames for the A team, but Lorna McPhee pipped Irene Whittington to give the B team hope before the two doubles racks.

Shakespeare A opened their account with a 2-4 home defeat against Royal Navy Club Seals. Work commitments mean they have lost Richard Hendy this season and Dave Marshall was unavailable and wins for Gary Bolton and Ray Talbot gave the visitors a dream start.

Neil Perkins hit back to make it 1-2 and a fortunate Andy Potter levelled, but shot choice errors in the doubles racks gifted the Seals several crucial shots and last minute signing Ben Longstaff sealed the points for the visitors in a tight frame against Ross Richards-Jones and Shake rookie Andy Wakefield.

Gnosall’s Navigation hosted Pheasant B, but lost by the odd frame. Scott Smith put Simon Walley in his place in rack one for the home team, only for Mike Jones to redress the balance against Steve Whitlock. Terrance Trent Garvey made it 2-1 for the home side, but the former Legion side hit back with a singles win for Liam Matthews and two useful doubles racks to seal the three points.

Railway Tavern got the better of the Horns side in Upper Bar by a similar 4-2 score line. Jack Dicken was proud as punch to see off iconic veteran Brian Hall, but a hiccup by Stu Morrey in rack two was rectified by Adam Stone and Greg Quinn. Stone and Morrey sealed the three points with a sixth frame win.

Shakespeare B were stunned by the Royal Navy Club A in Bellman’s Yard in the night’s upset. Mark Kijuk left-footed Russ Woodhouse to put the home side in the lead, only for Barry Smith and Jess Hilditch to make it 1-2. Allen Pritchettt got one leg over Jane Hilditch to level the match at 2-2, but veterans Gerry Nunn and Dennis Holland excelled in rack five for the home team and Pritchett and Jez Price clinched the draw in the final frame.

Pheasant A claimed a 4-2 victory over the Wheatsheaf in the final match of the evening.